Coin controlled vending apparatus with hydraulic actuating system

ABSTRACT

COIN CONTROLLED ARTICLE VENDING APPARATUS WHICH FEATURES A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO RELEASE A SELECTED ARTICLE FROM STACKED HORIZONTAL POSITION FOR DISPENSING.

Nov. 14, 1972 o. E. RAINEY ,665

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATING SYSTEM Filed April 15 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvemo DON E. RAINEY D. E. RAINEY 3,702,665 COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATING SYSTEM Filed April 15, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 14, 1972 FIG. 3-

DON E.RAINEY INVENTOR.

Nov. 14, 1972 D. E. RAINEY z 3,702,655

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATING SYSTEM Filed April 15, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

DON E. RAINEY Nov. 14, 1972 D. E. RAINEY 3,702,555

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATING SYSTEM US. Cl. 221-301 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE Coin controlled article vending apparatus which features a hydraulic system to release a selected article from stacked horizontal position for dispensing.

The present invention relates to improvements in coin controlled vending apparatus and is concerned more partciularly with the use of a hydraulic system in combination with such apparatus to release articles from stacked horizontal position in a vertically arranged chute to discharge position from the apparatus.

The invention is specifically concerned with improvements in my copending application Ser. No. 765,936, filed Oct. 8, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,502,382 entitled, Dispensing Apparatus Mechanism, which is a continuationin-part of my application Ser. No. 614,768, filed Jan. 18, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,433,545, such improvements involving a hydraulic selector system to adapt the apparatus of the foregoing patent and application specifically to coin controlled article dispensing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic system having a plurality of connected push buttons and plungers for controlling the release of a selected article so constructed and arranged that only a single push button and plunger can be actuated at any one time. A further object is to provide such a system which is rendered inoperative if attempt is made simultaneously to actuate two or more push buttons and plungers.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial detailed view, similar to FIG. 1 of my aforesaid patent application, showing rticles stacked in vertical chutes and transposer means pivotally supported at the lower ends of each chute to shift the lowermost articles from horizontal position to releasing dispensing position in a downwardly inclined tracky;

FIG. 2 is a still further enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the transposer means in locked position and the hydraulically actuated escapement mechanism as contemplated by the present invention in cooperation therewith;

'FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of a coin operated hydraulic means for operating the locking or escapement mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing one of the push buttons and plungers in actuating position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the safety feature wherein two push buttons and plungers cannot be operated simultaneously because of the limited volume of hydraulic fluid.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the upright frame elements 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 define vertically arranged chutes indicated in their entireties at 2. Frame elements 3 define United States Patent 0 ice downwardly inclined dispensing trackways indicated in their entireties at 4. It is to be understood, however, that the chutes 1 and dispensing trackways 4 may be formed in any other manner, provided in any desired number and that the trackways 4 may extend downwardly at any angle or even dispensed with altogether.

The articles stored and to be dispensed are designated at A.

In the particular form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, transposer means for shifting the lowermost article in the chutes from horizontal position to released dispensing position comprises a substantially L-shaped element 5 pivotally supported at the lower end portions of each of the vertical chutes 2 in any suitable manner such as by a rearwardly extending shank or hinge in rotatable engagement with a cross-bar 6. The transposer element 5 is shown in locked article engaging position at the left-hand chute in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, and in article releasing position at the right-hand chute in FIG. 1.

For actuating the transposer means or 'L-shaped element 5, a rocker arm 7 is pivotally supported by a shaft carried by uprights 1 rearwardly of each of the transposers 5 and has a free upper end portion 8 in sliding engagement with the rearward upright wall portion of the transposer 5, as shown, and its lower end portion connected to hydraulic cylinder and piston means 70, 72 and 74 to be later described. A bracket 9 or the like supports the hydraulic means in operative position upon an upright 1. 6

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, there is shown liquid containing housing indicated in its entirety at 10 and an associated control box indicated in its entirety at 12 and including coin slots 12a. The coin control device 12 may be of any conventional kind and accordingly is not shown in full detail. The rear wall portion 14 of the housing 10 has a plurality of flexible conduits 16 for conveying fluid to terminal cylinder and piston means indicated in their entireties at 18. The fluid contained in the housing 10 and its connecting conduits may be termed a secondary fluid body. Protecting end walls 20 and 22 of the housing 10 form a reservoir cylinder for a primary fluid body as will be hereinafter described.

The front and rear wall sections of the housing 10 are preferably provided with interposed sealing washers 24 and are connected by bolts 26. The rear wall section 14 is formed to provide a plurality of cylinders 28 for receiving plungers 30 and sealing rings 32. The plungers 30 have shafts 34 which project outwardly of the front wall section of the housing 10 and terminate in push buttons 36 for selective manual operation of the plungers. The shafts 34 are sealed by rings 38. Removable screws 40 having washers 42 provide access to the interior of each of the cylinders 28 and to the end reservoir cylinder 44.

The piston or plunger 46 including a sealing ring 48 is reciprocated in the reservoir cylinder 44 by a shaft 50 sealed by a ring 52 and projecting outwardly of the end of the housing 10 adjacent to the coin control 12. The shaft is spring pressed intermediate its length by a spiral spring 54 the tension of which may be adjusted by the disc 56 and nut 58. The free end portion of the shaft 50 is provided with ratchet teeth 60 which are projectable into the coin box 12 for engagement with looking dog means 62 operable by the coin control device. FIG. 3 shows the dog rack 60 and 62 in locked inoperable engagement and FIGS. 4 and 5 show them disengaged for release of the piston 46 to allow fluid to flow out of the reservoir 44 for selective operation of the plungers 30. A bleeder port 78 in the end wall of the reservoir 44 allows for ready reciprocal movement of the piston 46.

The reservoir indicated in its entirety at 66 is in open communication with the end reservoir cylinder 44 and is the receptacle for the primary body of fluid 64. When the fluid 64 fills the reservoir 44, as shown in FIG. 3, the plungers 30 are locked against forward thrust and the apparatus is inoperative. However, when the coin control 12 releases the piston 46, any selected plunger 30 becomes operable to withdraw the volume of fluid 64 from the reservoir 44 into the primary reservoir 66 upon forward thrust of the plunger 30 to actuate the hydraulic terminal means 18 for pivotally shifting the transposer to release an article A from chute 2.

It will be apparent that the volume of fluid in the reservoir 44 is so limited that when it is withdrawn into the primary or main fluid system upon release of the dog rack 60 and 62 only a single plunger 30 may be operated to dispense an article, as shown in FIG. 4 and that, when such volume is returned to the reservoir, none of the plungers is capable of dispensing operation, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the volume of fluid is such that a plurality of plungers 30 cannot be simultaneously operated, thus restricting the dispensing func/ tion to a single selected article.

The conical ports 68 facilitate forced entry of fluid 76 into the extended conduits 70 upon actuation of the plunger 30 and to the article releasing terminal means 18 where the cylinder 72 and reciprocating piston 74 actuate the rooker arm 7 or other equivalent means in turn to actuate the transposer 5 for dispensing release of a selected article as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It is to. be understood that the present invention is not confined to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated and described but embraces all such modifications thereof as may come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Vending apparatus for storing and dispensing articles which comprises,

a cabinet having a multiplicity of vertically arranged chutes for receiving the articles in stacked horizontal position,

transposer means pivotally supported at the lower ends of each chute to shift the lowermost articles in the chutes from horizontal position to downward discharge dispensing position,

hydraulic cylinder and reciprocating piston means to actuate said transposer means,

said hydraulic means comprising,

a primary hydraulic fluid system including article selecting plungers, the hydraulic transposer actuating means being operable by said primary hydraulic system, and

a storage and discharge resenvoir for varying the volume of fluid in said system,

the said system being operable in accordance with said variation of volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including,

- coin control means for controlling the discharge of fluid from the storage and discharge reservoir.

3. Vending apparatus for storing and dispensing articles which comprises,

a cabinet having a multiplicity of vertically arranged chutes for receiving the articles in stacked horizontal position,

transposer means pivotally supported at the lower ends of each chute to shift the lowermost articles in the chutes from horizontal position to downward discharge dispensing position,

hydraulic cylinder and reciprocating piston means to actuate said transposer means,

said hydraulic means comprising,

a primary fluid body,

a secondary fluid body,

cylinder and reciprocating plunger means interposed between said bodies,

said secondary fluid body actuating the transposer means, and

said primary fluid bo'dy causing actuation of said secondary fluid body by reciprocal movement of said plunger means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 additionally including coin control means for controlling operation of the hydraulic means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 441,536 11/1890 Cornell 221-289 X 2,294,236 8/1942 Levernier 222-179 2,754,860 7/1956 Moore et al. 221-289 X 2,904,215 9/1959 Kohler 221-278 X 2,989,165 6/1961 Cozart 221-301 X 3,433,545 3/1969 Rainey 221-92 X 2,374,588 4/1945 Doran -53 D 2,414,451 1/ 1947 Christensen 60-545 UX 2,655,242 10/1953 Chalfin et a1 221-129 X 2,842,108 7/ 1958 Sanders.

' 2,903,158 9/1959 Howard, Jr. 221-277 X 2,965,262 12/1960 DuBois 221-277 X 3,057,513 10/1962 T-urman 221-277 X 3,134,473 5/1964 Tremolada 221-129 X 3,254,794 6/1966 Meresz et al 221-129 X 3,268,673 8/1966 Bilek 200-5 E GEORGE E. LOWRA-NCE, Primary Examiner S. E. LIPMALN, Assistant Examiner 'U.S. Cl. X.R. 

